Project 514 was a breeding  program to establish a pool of German Shepherds for use as military dogs by the Thai military.   These dogs were presented to the Thai Government as a gift of the US Government  in the summer of 1968.  See The Gift

Ninety-four dogs of the 635th SPS, U-Tapao RTAB are now identified on a memorial at the Gunter Annex, Heritage Hall, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. The memorial, was dedicated on November 9, 2002, is the only memorial of its kind in the world where United States Military Working Dogs are identified by their name and tattoo number. The funds were raised by their handlers. This is the final resting place for our canine partners -

"We brought them home"!

For Corrections

 

Duke 62M7, (Photo Courtesy of Bill Cummings)

At the end of the American cavalry era, the Army disposed of its horses by machine gunning them to death. In our war, the dogs were treated the same way. Only it was done in a more “humane” manner. Some excess dogs were reassigned to other bases but most were killed. The US Military has pledged never to dispose of military working dogs in such a  manner again. A change in the law now allows  military dogs to be retired after their service is completed.

Please read  Death of a Warrior .

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